Door operating mechanism



May 19,1931. J. HUSTON DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 16. 1929 2 Sheets-Shee l ma s M 1 INVEN TOR.

N k x WW 4 M m J. HUSTON May 19, 1931.

DOOR OPERAT ING MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 16, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE/VTOR JACK HUSTON.

Patented May 19.,- 1931 UNITED STATES JACK HUSTON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Application filed November 16, 1929. Serial No. 407,685.

My invention relates to improvements in door operating mechanism for automatically opening and closing the doors of garages and the like by. means of electrically operated actuating means controlled by circuit breaking means positioned remote from the door.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanism for automatically opening and closing doors and the 1 like from a point remote from the door.

Another object is to provide an improved door operating mechanism which is simple and positive in its action and which may be readily controlled from difierent points.

A further object is to provide an improved mechanism of the character described wherein the movement of a door is automatically stopped at its extreme positions, and in which the actuating mechanism is automatically reversed to move the door in the opposite direction when again operated.

Another object is to provide an improved actuating mechanism which operates to lock the doors in open'or closed positions as desired.

A further object is to provide an improved reversing means operative 'to disengage a driving connection moving the door in one direction and retard engagement with an opposite driving connection to prevent imposing excessive strain upon the driving connection by a sudden reversing.

A still further object is to provide an improved mechanism of the character described operated electrically through an improved control circuit adapted to afford a simple and positive control from separate points remote from the door.

A still further object is to provide an improved mechanism of simple and rugged construction which ma be economically manufactured and instal ed.

I accomplish these and other objects bymeans of the improved device disclosed in the drawings forming a partof the present ap-.

plication wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout the specification and drawings, and in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved door operating mechanism as mounted in connection with a double garage door, and including a conventional wiring diagram of the electrical connections;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe device as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a broken plan view of a portion of the actuating mechanism and reversing meanspthe view being drawn upon a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a broken detail of the reversing means;

Fig. 5 is a broken sectional detail of the automatic circuit breaking means; and

Fig. 6 is a broken detail of a clutch actuating plunger.

In the drawings. I have illustrated my invention as mounted in connection with a door 1 of the double door type such as commonly used for garage doors and the like, the double door portions being hingedly mounted at opposite edges upon suitable casement members 2 by means of suitable hinges 3. The door members 1 are arranged to be swung from their normal fully closed positions, as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 3, to the open positions indicated in dotted lines in said figures, by means of actuating arms 4 pivotally connected at one end to an actuating member 6 and at their opposite ends to levers 7 secured to the door members in any suitable manner.

The actuating member 6 consists or a worm gear suspended above and inwardly from the upper edges of the door upon a shaft 8 supported upon a suitable supporting bracket 9. The arms 4 are pivotally connected to the member 6 by suitable pivot pins 11 arranged at diametrically opposite sides of the member 6 and extending downwardly therefrom.

The worm gear 6 is driven by a worm 12 mounted upon ,a drive. shaft 13 andmeshing with saidworm gear 6. The worm12 is engaged between the. arms of a yoke shaped extension 14 formed upon the bracket 9fand forming bearings for the end of the shaft 13.

A suitable electric motor 16 is mounted upon a bracket 17 above the door members 1 and at one side of the bracket 13 and worm gear 6. The motor shaft 18 is provided with a bevel gear 19 meshing with a pair of oppositely facing pinions- 21 and 22 rotata ly mounted upon the drive shaft 13. The pinions 21 and 22are held in meshing relation with. the gear 19 by means of yoke arms 23- formed upon a. mounting member 24 secured gaging the member 27. Clutch actuating plungers 32 are'slidably mounted upon one of the arms 4, said plungers being disposed parallel to the arm 4 upon opposite sides of the lever 28 and being axially movable through suitable .mounting brackets 33. Springs 34 are mounted upon the plungers 32 to normally hold the same in an advanced po sition and tobe compressed when the plungers are receded throughthe brackets 33. Rollers 36 are mounted upon the plungers to engage opposite sides of the clutch lever 28 when the arm 4 is moved to either extreme position to open or close the door. Collars 37 and 38 are threaded onto each plunger,3 2 to-limit the movement thereof as indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the collar 37 also serving to com ress the spring 34 when the plunger is rece ed.

The clutch lever 28 is vprovided with an extension 28 to, which is pivotally connected a piston stem 39 secured to a piston 40 slidably mounted within a cylinder 41 containin a suitable fluid displaceable by the piston. he piston 40 is provided with a restricted open- 1 ing 40' therethrough to ermit the slowpassage-of fluid from one si e of the piston to the other. Thepiston 40is arranged tobe moved between its extreme positions within the cylinder 41. when the clutch lever 28 is moved from one extreme position to the other.

The motor 16 is driven electrically by energy delivered thereto through a circuit com prising a supply lead 42 and a return lead 43.'

e return lead 43. is connected directly to one terminal of the motor. The supply lead 42 is 56, said segment bein connected to a control switch arm 44, movable to engage either of a pair of contacts 46 and the other terminal of the motor by.a conduc- .tor 51. A conductor 52 connects the contact 47 to one of'apair of contacts 53 mounted in spaced and insulated relation to the contacts 49, the other of said contacts 53 being.c'onnected to the conductor 51 by a suitable con ductor 54. Suitable electromagnets 56 p are mounted in connection with the conductors 48 and 52 adjacent the switch arm 44, said magnets being adapted to be energized by the flow of an electric current therethrough, to hold the arm 44 in contact with either .contact 46 or 47 when said arm is moved manually to closea circuit through either.

The pairsof contacts 49 and 53are mounted adjacent the actuating member 6. A ring 56 of insulating material is mounted upon the surface of the member 6, and a segment 57 of conductive material-is mounted upon the ring substantially semicircular and preferably being'arranged with its surface flush with the surface of the insulating ring 56. The contacts 49 and53 are spaced from each other and arranged to engage the adjacent surfaces of the insulating ring 56 and conductive segment 57, one pair of said contacts being, arranged to engage the insulating ring 56 and theotherpair of contacts being arranged to engage the conductive segment 57 when the member 6 occupies either extreme position corresponding to the open and closed positions of the door 1.

A second control switch comprising a switch arm 58 and a pair of contacts 59 and 60 are mounted at a point remote from the first switch arm 44and from the motor 16. The arm 58 is connected to the supply lead 42 by means of a conductor 61. The contacts 59 and 60 are connected to the conductors 48 and 52 respectively by means of conductors 62 and 63,.s aid conductors 62 and 63 havin electromagnets 64 mounted in connection t erewith to be energized by the flow of current therethrough and to hold the arm- 58 in circuit closing relation to either contact 59 or 60 when moved manually to close a circuit there-- through.

My improved door operatii. g mechanism is designed primarily for use in connection with the doors of private garages to facilitate the opening and closing of the doors as an automobile 18 driven into or out of the garage. In this connection the operation of the device is as follows:

The motor and actuating means are mount edand connected to the door substantially as described. The control switch 44 is mounted at any convenient. point outside ofthe garage,

. tion, the switch arm44 is moved from its normal circuit breaking position into engagement with the contact 47, thereby'closing the circuit through said contact and the relayk 56', and conductor 52 connected thereto, to the contact 53. When the doors 1 are in closed position, the actuating member 6occupies a position with the conductive seg-,'

ment 57 engaging the pair of contacts 53 and closing the circuit therebetween, thereby completing the circuit to the motor 16 and causing the same to be energized andsetlin motion.

As the motor 16.is rotated, the gear 19 is operated'to drive the pinions 21 and 22 in opposite directions upon the shaft 13. When the doors 1 are in closed position, the clutch lever'28 is movedto shift the clutch member 27 into engagement with the clutch portion 26 of the pinion 21, so that as the gear 19 is rotated by the motor, the shaft 13 will be actuated by the pinion 21 to rotate the-worm 12 and thereby turn the actuating'memberfi in a door opening direction. As the member 6 is turned, through a half revolution, the

arms 4 will be moved in opposite directions to swing the doors 1 upon their hinges 3 from the-closed position shown in full lines to the open position indicated in dotted lines in Fig.

1 of the drawings. The segment 57 engages the contacts 53 during this movement of the member 6, thereby keeping the circuit closed at this point through the movement. The magnet 54 remains energized by the flow of current through the connection 52 tohold the arm 44 in circuit closing relation to the contact 47 to close the circuitat this point.

.said clutch lever.

As the doors reach their extreme open p0? sition,'the segment 57 is moved past the contacts 53,. thereby breaking the circuit at this point, and de-energizing the motor. As the circuit is broken at the contacts '53, the flow of current throu gh the conductor 52 and magnet 5.6 is interrupted and the magnet will therefore bede-energi zed and will release the switch arm 44 and break the connection to the conta'ct,47. v

Asthe doors approach their extreme open positioma plunger 32 upon the arm 4' ad.- acent the clutch lever 28 is moved to engage v As the roller 36 of the plunger 32- engages thelever 28, the plunger. is recededSagainst the pressure of the spring 33 until-the collar 38 seatsagainst the bracket 33. as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The further movement of the arm 4 and plunger 32 causes the'lever 28 to be moved in the direction of movement'of the arm 4, thereby causing the clutch member 27 to be moved out of engagement with" the clutch portion 26 of the pinion 21 and disengaging the mo tor'from the driving shaft-13. The pres.- sure of the spring 34 nowpresses the plunger forwardly against the lever 28'to carr the clutch member 27 into engagement with the opposite clutch portion 26 carried by the pinion 22. The action ofthe spring 34 is resisted by. the piston 40 moving in the. cylinder 41. The resistance offered to the displacement of the fluid within the cylinder through the restricted opening 40gof the piston'delays the moveinentfof the clutch'lever 28 and clutch member 27 -sufiiciently to insure that the rotation of. the motor will be stopped before the'clutch member .is moved to'en-gage the opposite clutch portion and pinion 22. As the fluid is slowly displaced past the piston40, the spring 34 operates to move the clutch member 27 into operative engagement with the opposite pinion whereby the shaft 13 and actuating member 6 will be, moved in a reverse direction when the motor is again set into motion.

To close the'door from its extreme open position, the arm 44 is moved to engage the contact 46, thereby closing the circuit to the direction to-swing the arms-4 and doors 1 backto the closed position. As the doors reach the closed position, the segment 57 moves out 'of engagement with the contacts 49 to break the circuit and thereby deenergize the motor. 1 At the, same time, the

clutch arm is 'moved to disengage the' 'clutch member 27 from the pinion 22,'sa'id clutch being subsequentlymoved with a retarded movement into engagement with the op osite pinion 21 in the manner above describe thus reversing the driving connection from the motor; p v

Where it is desired to also controlthe operating mechanism from a. point within the garage, or-other desired location, the switch arm 54 is moved toclose the circuit through the desired contact 59 or 60 to move the actuating mechanism and doors in a desired direction. .The contacts 59 and 60 are connected to the conductors 48 and 52as aboveexplained so that the operationof the switch arm 54 operates to close the motor circuit in thesame manner as the switch arm 44, but entirely'independently of said switch arm44. As the circuit is automatically broken ,be-

tween the contacts 49 or 53 as the door is moved to either extreme position, the switch arms 44 and 58 are operative to close the circuit only when moved to engage the proper opening or closing contact, and each arm 44 and 58 can be operated independently of the other. Thus, if the door is in a closed position, a movement of either arm 44 or 58 to engage the contacts 46 or 59 respectively, designated as the closing contacts, the motor will not operate as the circuit will be broken between the contacts 49. a A movement of either arm to engage the opening contacts 47 or 60 respectively, however, will close the circuit and operate to open the door.

The worm and gear by which the arms 4 are actuated to move the doors operate effectually to lock the doors against movement independently of the motor and actuating mechanism. Thus, while the doors are closed, the doors can be opened only by operating one of the control switches 44 or 48, and by providing suitable locking means for these switches, the door will be eliectually locked which to prevent entrance by unauthorized persons. When the door is open, the worm and gear prevent the door from being inadvertently closed. If it is desired to operate the doors independently of the motor and operating mechanism, either or both arms 4 may be .disconnected, to permit free operation of the doors.

While I have illustrated and described only one embodiment of my invention, the device is, of course, subject to modification in numerous Ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and in like manner, the device may be modified for use in connection with doors of other types. I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to thespecific form and arrangement illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications may fall within the scope of the appended claims. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A door operating mechanism comprising the combination with a door movable bee tween open and closed positions, of a door actuating member mounted adjacent the door; door operating means connecting the actuating member and the door; electrically actuated driving means connected to the actuating member; reversing means mounted in connection with the electrically actuated driving means and engaged by the door operating means for automatically reversing the movement of the actuating member when the door is moved to either extreme position; control means mounted remote from the electrically actuated driving means and electrically connected-thereto for making and breaking an electric circuit therethrough; and means connected into the electric circuit to automatically break the ciruit when the door is moved to either extreme position.

2. A door operating mechanism comprising the combination with a door movable between open and closed positions, of a door actuating member mounted adjacent the door; an electric motor; actuating means connected to the actuating member and driven by the motor to operate said member; means connecting the actuating member to the door to move said door between its open and closed positions; reversing means mounted in connection with the actuating means to reverse the movement of the actuating member; means for automatically operating said reversing means when the door is moved to either extreme position; and an electric circuit connecting the motor with a-source of electrical energy, said circuit including a control switch mounted at a point remote from the motor to open and close the circuit, and circuit breaking means to automatically break the circuit when the door reaches either extreme position.

3. A door operating mechanism comprising the combination with a door movable between open and closed positions, of a door actuating member mounted adjacent the door; an electric motor; a driving shaft connected to the actuating member and provided with opposite faced driving pinions; driving gear connected to the motor and meshing with the pinion; clutch means mounted in connection with the pinions for connecting either pinion into driving engagement with the shaft; door actuating arms connecting the actuating member with the door to move said door between its extreme open and closed positions; and an electric circuit connecting the motor with a source of electrical energy, said circuit including manually operable circui't'closing and breaking meaps mounted remote from the motor, and automatically operated circuit breaking means mounted in connection with the door actuating member for breaking the circuit-through the motor. 5

4. A door operating mechanism comprising the combination with a door movable between open and closed positions, of a door actuating member mounted adjacent the door; an electric motor; a driving shaft connected to the actuating member and provided with opposite faced driving pinions; a driving gear connected to the motor and meshing with the pinions; clutch means mounted in com nection with the pinions for connecting either pinion into driving engagement with the, shaft; door actuatin arms connecting the actuating member wit the door to move said door between its extreme open and closed. positions; an electric circuit connecting the motor with a source of electrical energy, said circuit includin manually operablecircnit closing and breaking means mounted remote from the motor, and automatically operated circuit breaking means mounted in connection with the door actuating member for breaking the circuit through the motor; and means for automatically operating the clutch to reverse the driving connection when the door is moved to either extreme position.

5. A door operating mechanism comprising the combination with a door movable between open and closed positions, of a door actuating member mounted adjacent the door; an electric motor; a driving shaft connected to the actuating member and provided with opposite faced driving pinions; a driving gear connected to the motor and meshing with thepinions; clutch means mounted in connection with the pinions for connecting either pinion into driving engagement with the shaft; door actuating arms connecting the actuating member with the door to move said door between its extreme open and closed positions; an electric circuit connecting'the motor with a source of electrical energy, said circuit including manually operable circuit closing and breaking means mounted remote from the motor, and automatically operated circuit breaking means mounted in connection with the door actuating member for breaking the circuit through the motor; a pivoted clutch actuating arm engaging the clutch; and resilient means mounted upon the door actuating arms and movable to engage and to automatically move the clutch actuating arm to reverse the driving connection when the door is moved to either position.

6. A door operating mechanism comprising the combination with a door movable between open and closed 'positions,-of a door actuating member mounted adjacent the door; an electric motor; a driving shaft connected to the actuating member and provided I with opposite faced driving pinions; a driving gear connected to the motorand meshing with the inions; clutch means mounted in connection with the pinions for ,connecting either pinion into driving engagement with theshaft; door actuating arms connecting the actuating member with the door to move said door between its extreme open and closed positions; an electric circuit connecting the motor with a source of .electrical energy, said circuit including manually operable circuit closing and break ing means mounted remote from the motor, and automatically operated circuit breaking means mounted in connection with the door actuating member for breaking the circuit through the motor; a pivoted clutch arm engaging the clutch; plunger means mounted upon the door actuating arm and movable to engage the clutcharm and move said arm to disengage the clutch; and a spring compress sible by said plunger whenthe clutch arm is engaged and moved to disengage one pinion, said spring operating to carry the clutch into engagement with the opposite clutch member and pinion and thereby reverse the driving connection when the door is moved to either extreme position.

7. A door operating mechanism comprising the combination with a door movable between open and closed positions, of a door actuating member mounted adjacent the door; an electric motor; a driving shaft connected to the actuating member and provided with opposite faced driving pinions; a driving gear connectedto the motor and meshing with the pinions; clutch means mounted in connection with the pinions for connecting either pinion into driving engagement With the shaft; door actuating arms connecting the actuating member with the door to move said door between its extreme open and closed positions; an electric circuit connecting the motor with a source of electrical energy, said circuit including manually operable circuit closing and breaking means mounted remote from the motor and automatically operated circuit breaking means mounted in connection with the door actuating member for breaking the circuit through the motor; a pivoted clutch arm engaging the clutch; plunger means mounted upon the door actuating arm and movable to engage the clutch arm and move said arm to disengage the clutch; a spring compressible by said plunger when the clutch arm is engaged and moved to disengage one pinion, said spring operating to carry the clutch into engagement with the opposite clutch member and pinion and thereby reverse the driving connection when the door is moved to either extreme position; and means for retarding the action of the spring and plunger to delay engagement with the opposite pinion.

8. A- door operating mechanism comprising the combination with a door movable between open and closed positions, of a door actuating member mounted adjacent the door; an electric motor; a driving shaft connected to the actuating member and provided with opposite faced driving pinions; a driving gear connected to the motor and meshing with the pinions; clutch means mounted in connection with the pinions for connecting either pinion into driving engagemet with the shaft; door actuating arms connecting the actuating member with the door to move said door between its extreme open and closed positions; an electric circuit connecting the motor with a source of electrical energy, said circuit including manually operable circuit closing and breaking means mounted remote from the motor and automatically operated circuit breaking means'mounted in connection with the door actuating member for breaking the circuit gaging the clutch; plunger means mounted upon the door actuating arm and movable to engage the clutch arm and move said arm to disengage the clutch; a spring compressible-by said plunger when the clutch arm is engaged and moved to disengage one pinion, said spring operating to carry the clutch into engagement with the" opposite clutch member and pinion and thereby reverse the driving connection when the door is moved to either extreme position; a pressure cylinder mounted adjacent the clutch actuating arm and containing a displaceable fluid; a piston mounted within the cylinder and apertured to permit the slow displacement of fluid from one side of the piston to the other; and means connecting the piston with the clutch arm to retard the movement of said arm when the clutch is moved to disengage one pinion and thereby delay engagement of said clutch with the opposite pinion.

9. A door operating mechanism comprising the combination with a door movable between open and closed positions, of a door actuating member rotatably mounted adjacent the door; an electric motor; a driving shaft geared to the door actuating member and provided with oppositely faced driving pinions; a driving gear connected to the motor and meshingwith the pinions; clutch engaging means connected to each pinion; a clutch member feathered onto the shaft and movable to engage the clutch means of either pinion; a door actuating arm pivotally connected at one end to the actuating member and at the opposite end to the door; a.- pivoted clutch arm engaging the clutch; means mounted upon the door actuating arm and movable thereby to engage and move the clutch arm to release the clutch; spring means compressed by the movement of the actuating arm for moving the clutch from released position to an operative engaging relation with the opposite pinion; and a piston connected to the clutch actuating arm and movable thereby -to displace fluid past the piston to retard the shifting of the clutch member.

10. In a door operating mechanism, the combination with a swinging door, of a worm gear mounted adjacent the door; a lever connected to the door; an arm pivotally connected to the lever and pivotally connected to the worm gear at an eccentric point thereon to swing thedoor between extreme open and closed positions when the gear is partially rotated; a worm meshing with the gear for rotating said gear; an electric motor; means connecting the motor to the gear, said means including a pair of driving pinions rotatable in opposite directions :by the motor; andclutch means for operatively connectingeither pinion to the worm for operating said worm; and means for automatically shifting the clutch means to engage the opposite pinion and reversg the direction of rotation of the worm and gear when the door is moved to an extreme position.

11. In a door operating mechanism, the combination with a swinging door, of a worm gear mounted adjacent the door; a lever connected to the door; an arm pivotally connected to the lever and pivotally connected to the worm gear at an eccentric point thereon to swing the door between extreme open and closed positions when the gear is partially rotated afworm meshing with the gear for rotating said gear; an electric motor; means connecting the motor to the gear, said means including a pair of driving pinions rotatable in opposite directions by the motor; clutchv means for operatively connecting either pinion to the worm for operating said worm; means for'automatically shifting the clutch means to engage the opposite plnion and reverse the direction of rotation of the worm and gear when the door is moved to an extreme position; and means for automatically breaking the circuit through the electric motor when the door reaches either extreme position.

12. In a door operating mechanism, the combination with a swingin door, of a worm gear mounted adjacent the door; a lever connected to the door; an arm pivotally connected to the lever'and pivotally connected to the worm gear at an eccentric point thereon to swing the door between extreme open and closed positions when the gear is partially rotated; aworm meshing with thegear for rotating said gear; an electric motor; means connecting the motor to the gear, said means including a pair of driving pinions rotatable in opposite directions by the motor; clutch means for operatively connecting either pinion to the worm for operating said worm;

means for automatically shifting the clutch means to engage the opposite pinion and reverse the direction of rotation of the worm and gear when the'door is moved to an extreme position; and circuit closing means mounted remote from the motor and doors to close a circuit through the motor, said means being electrically'connected to the motor and a source of electrical energy. 13. In a door operating mechanism, the combination with a swinging door, of a worm gear mounted adjacent the door; a lever connected to the door; an arm pivotally connected to the lever and pivotally connected to the worm gear at an eccentric point thereon to swing the door between extreme open and elosed'p'ositions when the gear is partially rotated; a worm meshing withthe gear for rotating said gear; an electric motor; means connecting the motor to the gear, said means including a pair of driving pinions rotatable in opposite directions by the motor; clutch means for .operatively connecting either pinion to the worm for operating said worm; means for automatically shifting the clutch means to engage the opposite pinion and reverse the direction of rotation of the Worm and gear when the door is moved to an extreme position; circuit closing means mounted remote from the motor and doors to close a circuit through the motor, said means being electrically connected to the motor and a source of electrical energy; and means mounted in connection with the worm 10 gear to automatically break the circuit through the motor, independently of the circuit closing means, when the door reaches either extreme position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my sig- 15 nature.

JACK HUSTON. 

